Skunks are common mammals known for their defensive spray and their reliance on underground shelters for survival. These dens provide a safe, protected space for resting during the day and raising their young. Understanding the structure and location of a skunk’s burrow is the first step in managing their presence. Skunks are highly adaptable, often utilizing existing natural or man-made features to minimize the effort required to create a secure home.
Defining the Average Skunk Burrow
The depth of a skunk den varies depending on soil composition and whether the animal excavated it or repurposed an existing hole. Typically, a skunk digs a moderately shallow burrow, often extending only one to three feet beneath the surface. This depth provides sufficient insulation from temperature extremes and protection from most predators.
The tunnel leading from the entrance to the main nesting chamber can be long, sometimes reaching up to 20 feet. This distance helps ensure the sleeping area is far from the outside world. The primary nesting chamber is usually lined with soft materials like dried grasses, leaves, or hay for comfort and warmth.
Skunk burrows frequently incorporate multiple tunnels and entrances, serving as escape routes if a threat enters the main opening. The entrance hole is characteristically round or slightly oval, generally measuring between four and eight inches in diameter. Skunks may also opportunistically occupy abandoned dens dug by larger animals, such as groundhogs or foxes, to save labor.
Preferred Den Locations
Skunks choose den sites based on three factors: security, insulation, and proximity to food sources. In nature, they often seek out dense cover, such as thick brush piles, hollowed logs, or the space under large tree stumps. These locations offer immediate concealment and a solid roof, reducing the amount of earth they need to excavate.
When skunks move into human environments, they identify man-made structures as superior shelter options. The dark, quiet, and protected spaces underneath sheds, porches, decks, and mobile homes are sought after. These structures offer overhead protection from rain and snow, ensuring the den remains dry and stable. They also prefer areas with loose soil, such as flower beds or gardens, which makes digging easier for their strong foreclaws.
Identifying Active Skunk Dens
Identifying a skunk den involves looking for a distinct set of physical clues. The den entrance is typically a clean, round opening, four to eight inches wide, often located directly against a structure’s foundation or under a dense thicket. Unlike other burrowing animals that create a large, distinct cone-shaped mound, the soil excavated by a skunk is usually scattered or forms a low, fan-shaped pile of loose dirt immediately outside the entrance.
A faint, musky, or slightly garlicky odor near the opening indicates a skunk’s presence, even if the animal has not recently sprayed. Homeowners may also notice small, shallow, cone-shaped holes, typically one to three inches deep, scattered across the lawn. These are not den entrances but foraging sites where the skunk has dug for grubs and insects during its nightly activity.
Footprints leading to and from the den confirm the resident’s identity. Skunk tracks display five toes on both the front and hind feet, often with noticeable claw marks due to their digging habits. If you suspect a den is active, loosely cover the entrance with crumpled newspaper or a light layer of soil. If the material is pushed out the next day, the den is currently in use.
Safe and Humane Exclusion Techniques
Humane exclusion focuses on encouraging the skunk to leave the den naturally and preventing its return. Because skunks are nocturnal, the process should begin during the day when the animal is sleeping inside. Start by making the den undesirable using sensory deterrents, such as placing a bright light or a blaring radio near the entrance. Skunks dislike disturbance and will seek a quieter, darker location within a day or two.
Before sealing the den, confirm there are no young kits inside, as they are born mainly in the spring and rely completely on their mother. Installing an exclusion device, commonly called a one-way door, over the main entrance is the safest and most effective technique. This specialized door is mounted over the opening, allowing the skunk to push its way out to forage but preventing re-entry.
Once the skunk has left, confirmed after several nights of the door remaining undisturbed, the opening must be permanently sealed. This involves burying galvanized wire mesh, often called hardware cloth, at least a foot deep. Bend the bottom section outward in an L-shape to prevent the skunk from digging back under the barrier. Securing all potential entry points and eliminating outdoor food sources, like pet food and unsecured garbage, ensures the skunk does not move to another spot on the property.